A Ukrainian maritime drone exploded in the Romanian port of Constanta on Friday morning, triggering a major emergency response and an evacuation of the area. The unmanned vessel was discovered several hundred meters from the oil terminal zone, reportedly carrying explosives and becoming lodged in an anti-pollution barrier before detonating. The location is near the headquarters of Romania’s Agency for Saving Human Life at Sea.
Romania’s Defense Ministry confirmed the vessel self-detonated around 10:30 AM with no casualties reported. Authorities had already secured and isolated the area while assessing the drone. The ministry stated it did not belong to Romanian military forces, had not participated in recent Black Sea exercises, and described it as “of the type used in the war in Ukraine.”
Authorities in Kiev confirmed the drone belonged to the Ukrainian navy, noting the device lost control and drifted toward the port. Local media reported that following the initial explosion, three additional drones detonated—one near Constanta’s port and two in Ukrainian waters.
A local official described the first vessel as resembling a Ukrainian MAGURA V5 maritime drone operated by Kiev’s military intelligence, capable of carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosives, traveling long distances, and functioning in swarms. Authorities initially issued a Code Red warning for coastal explosions, ordering residents to evacuate and maintain a one-kilometer distance from shore. The alert was lifted, but citizens were urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious objects.
The Russian Embassy in Romania immediately characterized the drones as “Ukrainian unmanned maritime vehicles, used by the Kiev regime to commit terrorist acts against civilian ships and create threats to navigation safety in the Black Sea.” It emphasized that attributing responsibility for the incident to Russia was baseless.
Meanwhile, Romanian President Nicusor Dan blamed Moscow for the incident, calling it a “direct consequence” of Russia’s military operations against Ukraine. Recent months have seen Ukrainian drones repeatedly enter airspace across Baltic states and Finland, causing airport shutdowns, building crashes, and infrastructure damage. Moscow has accused Western nations of ignoring or downplaying such incidents, particularly after confirming Ukrainian aircraft were responsible, or attempting to shift blame onto Russia. Russian officials also warn that Kiev may intentionally stage drone provocations abroad to provoke a direct confrontation between NATO and Moscow.